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These are the 101 best restaurants in California

From San Diego to the Bay Area and wine country, our food critic guides you to the best dining spots in the state.

Does California have the best restaurants in the country? Yes. Here’s our proof

Tell us: What are the best places to eat in your part of California?

A spread of dishes from Lucia, including caviar-topped shrimp toast, saltfish croquettes, plantains and wagyu patties.

‘Stop undervaluing our food.’ New Fairfax restaurant showcases Afro-Caribbean fine dining

Lucia’s chef and owner on bringing Afro-Caribbean flavors to a high-end setting, shopping for cross-diasporic ingredients and doing it for the culture.

LOS ANGELES, CA -- JUNE 17, 2025: A crumble topped blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry pie in the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Catherine Dzilenski / For The Times)

I perfected pie by baking 60 a day. You can get it right the first time

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 20: Hiramasa: Armenian cucumber, basil from our garden from Providence on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

These two L.A. restaurants are the city’s first-ever to receive three Michelin stars

BRENTWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 04: Dining area inside AOC on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021 in Brentwood, CA. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

A groundbreaking wine bar to close this summer because ‘continuing felt untenable’

Two hands hold a whole turkey sandwich with green spread against a red-and-white striped shirt

Hailee Catalano’s Mean, Green Turkey Sandwich

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Alba’s Spaghetti al Limone

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These are the 101 best tacos in Los Angeles

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Restaurant critic Bill Addison’s list of best tacos in L.A.

Los Angeles, CA - July 14: A plate of tacos is displayed from at the Industrial Downtown Night Market on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

The 18 best places to get vegetarian and vegan tacos in Los Angeles

A taco glossary: Words you need to know to order tacos like a pro

Illustrated portraits of 8 faces surrounded by taco ingredients

Celebrities, chefs and athletes share their favorite tacos in L.A.

Behind the scenes of the Food team devouring tons of tacos.

We ate hundreds of tacos to find the 101 best. Here’s how the whole process went

Our California Guides

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25 of the best restaurants and bars for your Palm Springs road trip

Take a break from sunbathing and vintage shopping to check out the best restaurants in Palm Springs and as far afield as Cathedral City and Yucca Valley, including a secret speakeasy, a Balkan-inspired beer hall and a classic steakhouse.

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Our L.A. food critic’s highly specific guide to San Francisco dining

Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad, Calif. with chef Eric Bost, July 13, 2024. Clockwiise from foreground: Gnudi, Porc, Melon and Croque Madame. (Amy Carson / For The Times)

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23 of the best restaurants and bars for your San Diego weekend getaway

Image of a restaurant dining room with people eating various foods

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19 must-try diners and restaurants for your next California road trip

RIVERSIDE, CA - NOVEMBER 10, 2023: The Fox Theater was built in 1929, and is a Spanish Colonial Revival style building in the heart of downtown Riverside on November 10, 2023 in Riverside, California. It underwent a major renovation in 2010.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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SoCal’s most overlooked weekend escape is a place you’ve probably driven past

Restaurant Reviews

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With the new Vin Folk, Hermosa Beach becomes a culinary destination
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Have menu fatigue? Enter another dimension at a Santa Ana industrial park
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This dumpling reveals all at a Turkish restaurant like no other in L.A.
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The originator of Panda Express is back. Is the new orange chicken better?
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Head to this new SGV dumpling parlor for Kaifeng-style xiao long bao
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An Arts District hub redefines the bistro for Los Angeles

Collage of food photos from the 2024 101 list

For Subscribers

These are the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles

Restaurant critic Bill Addison and columnist Jenn Harris rank the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles.

4 things we learned about L.A. cuisine while finding its 101 best restaurants

Hall of Fame restaurants: These timeless classics define L.A. dining

Our Food Guides

15 food fundraisers and events that support L.A.’s immigrant communities

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 4, 2022: Salsa being ladeled on a Carnitas Taco at Los Cinco Puntos (Ron De Angelis / For The Times)

18 immigrant-founded restaurants in L.A. from our Hall of Fame list

Moronga de borrego and barbacoa tacos from Barbacoa Ramirez, photographed for the 101 Best Tacos 2024 on Saturday, July 13th, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Andrea D'Agosto / For The Times)

19 street vendors to support from the 101 Best Tacos guide

Soyrizo-and-potato croissants on baking racks at Santa Canela panadería in Highland Park.

8 bakeries with globally inspired croissants that are uniquely L.A.

Collage of food images: fries, sandwiches, congee, pasta

The best places to eat and drink this month, according to our food writers

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: The shrimp empanadas, the mixta, perona and the Reina de la Casa are a few of the more popular dishes on the menu at Mariscos El Faro in Highland Park on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA. The food truck serves Sinaloa-style seafood items. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

10 top mariscos spots for Sinaloan-style aguachile in L.A.

Los Angeles , CA - May 20: A view of Philippe The Original, one of Los Angeles's oldest restaurants, founded in 1908 at Philippe The Original on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Los Angeles , CA. (Alex Justice / For The Times)

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Dine with history at L.A.’s landmark restaurants, founded in 1935 or earlier

Zhajiangmian deserves its moment. 11 places in L.A. to try these comforting Chinese noodles

Award-winning barista Kay Cheon at Dune Coffee.

11 coffee shops along the Santa Barbara coast for your next weekend road trip

The plato de birria con pistola at Birrieria Barajas, photographed for the 101 Best Tacos 2024 on Wednesday, July 17th, 2024 in Compton, CA. Andrea D'Agosto For The Times

8 favorite birria and barbacoa tacos to try from the 101 Best Tacos guide

Two customers eating a spread of vegan food, including fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy.

7 must-try spots for vegan fried chicken in L.A.

Los Angeles, CA - February 13: Amy Krauser, roaster, makes latte art at Cognoscenti Coffee in Los Angeles Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Photo taken in (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

13 convenient coffee shops near L.A. freeways to ease your daily commute

Food Videos

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